#IReadsYou Review: THE AMBASSADORS #4

THE AMBASSADORS #4 (OF 6)

IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Olivier Coipel

COLORS: Giovanna Niro

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Olivier Coipel with Giovanna Niro

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ryan Sook; Olivier Coipel

28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2023)

Rated M / Mature

The Ambassadors created by Mark Millar at Netflix

The Ambassadors is a new comic book miniseries written and created by Mark Millar.  The series focuses on the six people out of eight billion humans who will receive super-powers.  Each person will become a member of  the international rescue squad, The Ambassadors.  Each issue of The Ambassadors will be drawn by a different superstar comic book artist.  The fourth issue is drawn by Olivier Coipel; colored by Giovanna Niro; and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Ambassadors focuses on the efforts of Doctor Choon-He Chung.  The technology of her company, Chung Solutions (the world leader in bio-engineering and artificial intelligence), built her a new body.  Now, she wants to share super-powers with the world.  From her “Base-Control” is in Antarctica, Choon-He is building “The Ambassadors.”

The Ambassadors #4 opens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  There, the police have defeated the gangs, but now these enforcers of the law have become the crime lords.  A lone voice, Father Vitor Pereira fights the corruption from his church, and for his efforts, he has been chosen “Codename Brazil,” the superhero who will be Brazil's “Ambassador.”

But he doesn't want it.  What part do Captain Eduardo Lobo, the policeman turned militia leader and crime lord, and his female killer, Zee, play in Farther Pereira's ultimate choice?  Meanwhile, Jin-Sung, Choon-He's ex-husband, continues to sell super-powers to the super rich...

THE LOWDOWN:  Thanks to a review copy provided by the Mark Millar division of Netflix, I have been able to read the first four issues The Ambassadors.  This is a treat for which I have been awaiting since the announcement of the series last year.

In The Ambassadors #4, artist Olivier Coipel captures the grittiness, persistent poverty, and brutal violence of Rio de Janeiro in an artistic tableau of stylish graphics, eye-catching graffiti, and expressive graphic design.  Under Giovanna Niro's lavish colors, Coipel's art matches the aesthetic of writer Mark Millar's darker series, such as the recent Nemesis Reloaded and Night Club.

Millar's script, however, offers a poignant tale of a rose growing in concrete, but a flower showing its thorns in a life of horrid violence.  This is a tale of a man determined to make that flower bloom beyond full, even if he has to give up the greatest material things any human could ever get on the planet Earth.

The Ambassadors #4 is a nice follow-up to the amazing third issue.  This fourth issue keeps the series undeniable and unmatched.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of big concept superhero comic books will want to read The Ambassadors.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

https://twitter.com/ImageComics

https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar

https://twitter.com/netflix

http://www.millarworld.tv/

www.imagecomics.com

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: STATIC: Season One #1

STATIC (SEASON ONE) #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/Milestone Media

STORY: Vita Ayala
LAYOUTS: ChrisCross
FINISHES: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
COLORS: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Chris Conroy
PRODUCERS: Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan for Milestone Media
COVER: Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Shawn Martinbrough with Chris Sotomayor; Nikolas Draper-Ivey; Denys Cowan with Brad Anderson; Olivier Coipel with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S., (August 2021)

Rating: 13+

Milestone and Static created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle

Episode One: Trial by Fire

Milestone Comics was the publishing division of Milestone Media, and its comic book titles were published and distributed by DC Comics.  Milestone was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers, consisting of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle.  Milestone Media's founders believed that minorities were severely underrepresented in American comic books and wished to address this.  In 1993, Milestone Media launched its first four titles Icon, Blood Syndicate, Static, and Hardware, but DC Comics ceased publication of all Milestone Comics titles in 1997.

Static, Milestone's most popular superhero character, first appeared in Static #1 (cover dated: June 1993).  Static is Virgil Ovid Hawkins, an African-American teenage boy who is a member of a subspecies of humans with superhuman abilities known as “metahumans.”  Static's origin has changed since he first debuted, and now, he has gained his powers after an incident exposed him to a radioactive chemical, making Virgil capable of electromagnetic control and generation.

Both Milestone and Static are back with the launch of the new comic books series, Static (Season One), also known as Static: Season One.  The series is written by Vita Ayala; drawn by ChrisCross (layouts) and Nikolas Draper-Ivey (finishes); colored by Draper-Ivey; and lettered by Andworld Design.  The new comic book focuses on a bullied nerd who gains super-powers, only to discover that his enemy has also gained powers.

Static: Season One #1 (“Trial by Fire”) opens in Dakota City, USA in the aftermath of the “Big Bang.”  That incident happened at a “Black Lives Matter” rally that turned insane when the police released an experimental tear gas on the protesters.  Some people were maimed or died; others gained  stunning new abilities and powers.  Bullied nerd, 16-year-old Virgil Hawkins, gained powers.

Virgil has power inside him now, real power that he constantly hears and feels buzzing inside him.  He has the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields, but Virgil also has anger burning inside him.  One of his classmates, the bully Francis Stone, has already felt Virgil's power.  But Francis, who calls himself “Hotstreak,” also has power inside him, and he is ready for some payback.

THE LOWDOWN:  In the original 1990s Static, Virgil Ovid Hawkins was essentially a 1990s, African-American version of the early 1960s teenage Peter Parker/Spider-Man.  Like that classic character, Virgil/Static struggled at becoming a superhero and had to deal with what it did to his life.

Writer Vita Ayala and artists ChrisCross Nikolas Draper-Ivey present a Virgil Hawkins who is a Black teenager coming of age in this era of protests that was launched by the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, (May 25, 2020), murdered by the hands (and knee) of a White police officer.

Ayala presents Virgil as an African-American teen who may be bullied, but does not even understand the idea that he should defer, know his place, or be a second class citizen.  Will he fight back against those who attack him or turn the other cheek … or is there an entirely different path that others have not imagined?  After reading this first issue, I feel that Ayala is going to take us, dear readers, on a journey of questions and answers, but one also filled with superhero action.

The compositions and colors by Nikolas Draper-Ivey remind me of the quirky animation of the 2018 film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, crackling with eye-popping colors and striking graphics.  It is as if Nikolas wants us to feeling the shimmering, crackling, and buzzing inside Virgil.  ChrisCross (layouts) and Draper-Ivey move the story through this issue like an electric charge running along a line, and for the final page, Cross/Nikolas gives us a … static shock.  The drama, tension, and conflict practically bleed off the page.

I thought that I would like Static: Season One #1, but I am surprised by how much I like it.  By the end, I could have read another forty pages.  If Milestone fans were unsure about moving on, this first issue will make them happy for this re-imagining of a Black superhero for the BLM generation.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Milestone Comics will want Static Season One.

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

[This comic book has a tribute from Denys Cowan and Chris Conroy to the late comic book artist, John Paul Leon (1972-2021), who drew the first Static comic book.  This comic book also includes a “DC Nation” “Spotlight On” interview with Joshua Williamson about Infinite Frontier #1.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/definitelyvita
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https://twitter.com/NikDraperIvey
https://twitter.com/DakotaUniverse
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https://www.facebook.com/dccomics
https://www.youtube.com/user/DCEntertainmentTV
https://www.pinterest.com/dccomics/
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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: Henry and J.J. Abrams' SPIDER-MAN #1

SPIDER-MAN No. 1 (2019)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: J.J. Abrams and Henry Abrams
PENCILS: Sara Pichelli
INKS: Sara Pichelli with Elisabetta D'Amico
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITOR: Nick Lowe
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Olivier Coipel with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Sara Pichelli with Dave Stewart; Chip Kidd; Ed McGuiness with Laura Martin; Humberto Ramos with Edgar Delgado; Jason Polan
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2019)

Rated  “T”

Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

“Bloodline”

Spider-Man is the classic Marvel Comics superhero that debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 (cover dated: August 1962).  Peter Parker, a high school student, was bitten by a radioactive spider.  That bite gave him strange powers, including the proportional speed and strength of a spider and his “spider-sense” a kind of internal warning beacon.  Parker donned what would become his trademark red and blue costume (that he made himself), and became the crime-fighting superhero, The Amazing Spider-Man.

Spider-Man publications have always attracted celebrated comic book creators who wanted to tell Spider-Man stories.  One of the most recent is acclaimed film director and Emmy-winning television producer, J.J. Abrams.  Abrams and his son, Henry Abrams, are the writers of a new five-issue comic book miniseries, entitled Spider-Man.  [When this series is collected in book form,“Spider-Man: Bloodline” might be the title.]  The series is drawn by modern Spider-Man superstar artist, Sara Pichelli, with Elisabetta D'Amico as an inking assistant.  The series colorist is Dave Stewart, and the letterer is Joe Caramagna.

Spider-Man #1 opens on what may be the worst day of Spider-Man's life.  His battle against a powerful villain named  “Cadaverous,” has left him grievously wounded.  For the hero, the day also turns stunningly, shockingly tragic.

Twelve years later, Peter Parker travels, practically non-stop, always working on another “assignment.”  Meanwhile, Peter's son, Ben, lives with Aunt May and struggles, not because he is a bullied wallflower – like the teenage version of his father.  Ben fights back, which drives a wedge between him and his father.  Now, Aunt May believes it is time for Ben to learn some secrets...

I am a huge fan of comic book artist Sara Pichelli, who is the artist most associated with Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man and the star of the Oscar-winning film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.  Here, Pichelli delivers some of her most beautiful illustrative work, and her storytelling is emotive, potent, dramatic, and lovingly mysterious.  Nailed it!

After Marvel announced that J.J. Abrams and Henry would be writing a special Spider-Man comic book, I came across the usual cacophony of negative commentary from the fan-resentment chorus.  However, the American comic book industry would be better off if more Hollywood types, that are quite skilled in the art of the story, wrote comic books.  Abrams excels at emotion, character drama, female characters, and family drama, especially when it comes to the dynamics between parent and child.  I don't know how much Henry is contributing to writing here, but it is good.  Nailed it!

Everyone who reads comic books on a regular basis knows that Dave Stewart is currently among the very best colorists in American comic books, if not the best.  I can say that here, Stewart “Nailed it!”  Letterer Joe Caramagna... captures the subtle and quiet atmosphere of this first chapter with his usual skill.  So he... Nailed it!, too.

I am happy that the Abrams' Spider-Man is one of those superstar-driven, event comic book publications that is actually, really damn good.  I am so ready for more.

10 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: MIGHTY THOR #1

MIGHTY THOR No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Jason Aaron
ART: Russell Dauterman
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER:  Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS:  Olivier Coipel; Russell Dauterman (Design Variant) Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Mike Deodato (Hip Hop Variant); Sarah Jean Maefs as Photographed by Judy Stephens
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Rated “T+”

“Thunder in Her Veins”

Marvel Comics' version of Thor is, of course, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated: August 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.    Marvel's “The Mighty” Thor is a superhero and a member of superhero team, The Avengers.

Thor possesses the “enchanted hammer,” Mjolnir, and he is the Prince of Asgard, the one true God of Thunder – the Odinson... until now.  There is a “Goddess of Thunder,” and she possesses Mjolnir.  She is Dr. Jane Foster, Thor's lady-friend.  As part of the “All-New, All-Different Marvel,” the new Thor has her second ongoing comic book series, Mighty Thor.  It is written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Russell Dauterman, colored by Matthew Wilson, and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Mighty Thor #1 (“Thunder in Her Veins”) opens with Jane Foster receiving chemotherapy because of the cancer that is killing her mortal form.  As Thor, she is healthy, and the Goddess of Thunder will be needed because elves are falling from the sky.  Before the Congress of Worlds, the Light Elves of Alfheim declare that the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and their sly king, Malekith, are waging war against them.

Although that is true, the Dark Elves deny it.  The tense and dangerous situation could be resolved by Odin, but the All-Father hides in his castle, refusing to engage.  Meanwhile Cul Borson is still seeking to take the new Thor prisoner, but an even darker conspiracy is gathering against her.

When I read the beginning of the first Jane Foster series, Thor #1, in late 2014, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I thought the book's creative team had done a fantastic job of starting a new era of Thor.  Well, that same creative team is back for Mighty Thor, and the first issue of this series is simply a continuation of the previous series.

I called writer Jason Aaron's script for Thor #1 “a thing of wonders,” and he hasn't missed a beat moving into Mighty Thor.  He has given the saga of Thor and of Asgard a “Game of Thrones” vibe.  And why not?  Thor has always had the potential to be a tale of both medieval courtly intrigue and high-fantasy war and adventure, while being a superhero comic book.

I am still enthralled by Russell Dauterman's art.  At the beginning of the earlier series, I liked his art, but for Thor, it needed time to grow on me.  With the arrival of Mighty Thor, Dauterman has won me over; he has brought something fresh and vital to Thor, even almost a year-and-a-half later.  As I did before, I recommend that readers at least try the first issue of this new Mighty Thor.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE MAGIC ORDER #6

THE MAGIC ORDER No. 6 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/Netflix – @ImageComics @TheMagicOrder @netflix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
ARTIST: Olivier Coipel
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
EDITOR: Rachel Fulton
COVER: Oliver Coipel with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: Karl Kerschl
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2019)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order is a six-issue comic book miniseries created by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Chrononauts) and artist Olivier Coipel (Thor).  It is also the first new and original comic book series created by Millar since he sold his organization, Millarworld, to Netflix in August of 2017.  Colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Peter Doherty complete the creative team.  The Magic Order recently ended (although there will be another miniseries in near future).

The Magic Order focuses on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.  The Order's leader, Leonard Moonstone, and his children:  Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel must deal with a mob-like war and conspiracy that is killing off members of The Magic Order.  Their adversary is Madame Albany and her cohorts who are stealing magical objects, with Albany focusing on the object she wants the most, the magical book, “the Orichalcum.”

The Magic Order #6 opens with the full conspiracy revealed.  The wayward Cordelia stands alone on the side of The Magic Order, and the identity of Albany's assassin, “The Venetian,” is a shocker.  As an ally of Albany prepares to snatch the Orichalcum, Cordelia has to fight or die, and she has to show that she is not exactly the wayward girl many think she is.

I think The Magic Order is my favorite Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic book.  It is a thrilling introduction to a new world and new universe of magic, magical beings, and magical conspiracies.  The Magic Order is really like a blend of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a Martin Scorsese mob film – leaning more towards Fantastic Beasts, but with a strong sense of Casino.  Millar has also shown that these characters are multi-layered and have much to show us beyond what we see in this first series.  Peter Doherty's lettering brings a sharp edge to Millar's dialogue, which in turn makes the scenes featuring characters engaged in violence explode.  So as this series ends, Millar gives us a little more, perhaps to set us up for a return to this Order.

After reading the first issue, I was not all that crazy about artist Olivier Coipel, but I was so wrong.  So much about The Magic Order works because of Coipel's graphical storytelling.  Coipel's art sells the idea that The Magic Order is a massive world of magic and history and that it is a world hidden in the shadows, just out of view of the eyes of humans.  Dave Stewart's muted colors add a layer to Coipel's art, creating a sense of mystery and mysticism.

I am as excited by Millar's premise now as I was when I read the first issue of this comic book last summer (2018).  Millar, Coipel, Stewart, and Doherty have created a special comic book, and The Magic Order #6 is the superb ending that a superb miniseries deserves.

9 out of 10

http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE MAGIC ORDER #2

THE MAGIC ORDER No. 2
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics @TheMagicOrder

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
ARTIST: Olivier Coipel
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
EDITOR: Rachel Fulton
COVER: Oliver Coipel with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: Rafael Grampa
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2018)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order is a new comic book miniseries created by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Chrononauts) and artist Olivier Coipel (Thor).  It is also the first new and original comic book series created by Millar since he sold his organization, Millarworld, to Netflix in August of 2017.

The Magic Order focuses on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness and from monsters of impossible sizes.  The Order's leader, Leonard Moonstone, and his children:  Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel must deal with a mob-like war and conspiracy that is killing off members of The Magic Order.

The Magic Order #2 opens with a Cordelia origin story.  The Order gathers in Moonstone Castle in a meeting to decide what to do about Madame Albany, the woman who is leading the killings of members of the Order.  What is “the Orichalcum?”  Who is Albany's assassin?  Has the Order heard of “The Venetian?”  Why is Albany and her cohorts stealing powerful magical objects?  These questions will need answers as members of the Order continue to be destroyed in the most novel ways.

There are some Mark Millar-written, creator-owned comic books that I really like (Kick-Ass, The Secret Service), and some do not interest me enough to keep reading past a first issue (Huck, Chrononauts).  The Magic Order is obviously one of those that I like enough to keep reading past the first issue.  I adore this comic book, and this second issue has obliterated my reservations.  The best Millar comic books are crazy, sexy, cool, and The Magic Order may be the craziest, sexiest, and coolest.  It is really like a blend of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a Martin Scorsese mob film – leaning more towards Fantastic Beasts, but with a strong sense of Casino.

After reading the first issue, I was not all the crazy about Olivier Coipel, but I am over that.  Was I on crack when I wrote of my “reservations” about this talented artist in my review of the first issue?  His illustrations are perfect for this moody, edgy, and deadly story, and Coipel depicts the increase in the rate of killings in a matter of fact manner that could take away your breath.

Colorist Dave Stewart balances the displays of magical places and the depictions of murder with a sense of balance – wonder meets blood-curdling.  Letterer Peter Doherty slips the word balloons in between the action like a smooth criminal would do.

I am excited by Millar's premise, and I really enjoyed reading The Magic Order #2, probably more than I was issue #1 – which I really enjoyed.  In my current state of giddiness concerning The Magic Order, I am immediately ready for the third issue.

9 out of 10

http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BLACK PANTHER #1

BLACK PANTHER No. 1 (2018) (Legacy #173)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Ta-Nehisi Coates
ART: Daniel Acuna
COLORS: Daniel Acuna
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Wil Moss
COVER: Daniel Acuna (based on the work of Brian Stelfreeze)
VARIANT COVERS: Artgerm; Tom Beland with Jordie Bellaire; Jamal Campbell; Olivier Coipel; Jack Kirby; Michael Kelleher with Paul Mounts; Pepe Larraz with Marte Gracia; In-Hyuk Lee; Yasmine Putri
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2018)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Rated “T”

“The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda” Book 1: “Many Thousands Gone”

Black Panther is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.  The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover dated: July 1966).  Black Panther was T'Challa, the king and protector of the (fictional) African nation of Wakanda.  Black Panther was also the first Black superhero in mainstream American comic books.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an African-American writer, journalist, and commentator.  Coastes is also a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, political, and social issues, particularly as they regard to Black people in America.  Coates' second book, Between the World and Me (released in July 2015), won the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction.  In 2015, he was the recipient of a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Black Panther and Ta-Nehisi Coates (with artist and designer Brian Stelfreeze) came together two years ago in a relaunch of the Black Panther comic book series.  Now, Coates is taking Black Panther in a new direction again, “The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda,” and a fresh series start.  Coates writes this new Black Panther with Daniel Acuna as series artist and colorist and Joe Sabino as the letterer.

Black Panther #1 (Legacy #173) opens by recounting the story of how a detachment of Wakandans founded a “small, desolate colony on the outer edges of the cosmos,” two thousands years ago.  Eventually this colony became its own empire, an oppressive empire.  Now, a miner a.k.a. “Nameless,” a slave on the mining planet, “Gorée,” rises to lead a rebellion.  And a legend is reborn.

In previous reviews of Ta-Nehisi Coates Black Panther, I have favorably compared what Coates is doing with the character to what British comic book writer, Alan Moore, did on his legendary tenure on DC Comics' Swamp Thing.  I wrote that Moore created a personality for the title character and built a world of supporting characters, bit players, and an intriguing fictional mythology that allowed him to explore Swamp Thing's character and motivations.  I said that the result of Moore's efforts was once-in-a-generation comic book storytelling.

Coates has taken what Black Panther writers and artists did before him and is doing what Alan Moore did with Swamp Thing – create a fictional comic book world that is wealthy with possibilities and does not really need the main universe.  Coates' Black Panther is also once in a generation comic book storytelling.  Now, Coates is taking Black Panther to somewhere the character has never gone – as far as I know.  In the far reaches of outer space, Coates will prove whether or not he belongs in the upper echelons of comic book creators.  With Black Panther #1 2018, Coates offers intriguing possibilities via interesting characters and provocative concepts.

Daniel Acuna seems to be the perfect collaborator for this new Black Panther.  His art is at once classic comic book space opera in terms of compositions and colors.  However, he makes his space faring tale look different with striking character and costume design.  Acuna is also pushing himself up the latter of recognition as a comic book storyteller.

In an unobtrusive manner, letter Joe Sabino picks his spots to convey the drama and evoke emotions in this story.  In many ways, Sabino is the gatekeeper who lets us into this far-flung world of story.  He is part of creative team that seems destined to take Black Panther to infinity and beyond.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE MAGIC ORDER #1

THE MAGIC ORDER No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
ARTIST: Olivier Coipel
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
EDITOR: Rachel Fulton
COVER: Oliver Coipel with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: Adam Hughes
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 13, 2018 – Diamond ID: APR180455)

Rated M / Mature

The Magic Order is a new comic book series created by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Chrononauts) and artist Olivier Coipel (Thor).  It is also the first new and original comic book series created by Millar since he sold his organization, Millarworld, to Netflix in August of 2017.  The Magic Order focuses on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness, a darkness that might end up destroying these protectors.

The Magic Order #1 introduces a world in which monsters do exist, but humanity does not see them.  Why?  “The Magic Order” is a group of five families of magicians that has protected humanity for generations, keeping people safe from monsters.  However, one of them, Edward “Big Eddie” Lisowski, has just been killed, and the killers may be other magic users.  Leonard Moonstone and his children:  Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel will find themselves at the center of a mob war-like conflict against a force that is picking off wizards one by one.

There are Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic books that I really like (Kick-Ass, The Secret Service) and there are those that do not interest me enough to keep reading past a first issue (Huck).  The Magic Order is one of those that I like enough to keep reading past the first issue.  The best Millar comic books are crazy, sexy, cool, and The Magic Order is that.  It is really like a blend of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a Martin Scorsese mob film – leaning more towards Fantastic Beasts.

The more Olivier Coipel draws comic books, the more his illustrations come to resemble the work of comic book artist, Kevin Nowlan.  Honestly, I do not think that Coipel is the best choice for this series or even if he is an appropriate choice for this subject matter.  I am not saying that Coipel is a poor illustrator, quite the contrary.  He is quite talented, and his graphic storytelling here is good.  Maybe... I am not quite feeling Coipel or colorist Dave Stewart, for that matter, in this series.  And I am a big fan of Stewart.

Still, I am excited by Millar's premise, and I really enjoyed reading The Magic Order #1.  I'm ready for the next issue.

8 out of 10

http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------

Review: KICK-ASS #1

KICK-ASS No. 1 (2018)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mark Millar
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Peter Steigerwald with Megan Madrigal
COLORS: Peter Steigerwald
LETTERS: John Workman
COVER: John Romita, Jr.
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Olivier Coipel with Sunny Gho; Frank Quitely
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2018)

Rated M/Mature

Kick-Ass created by Mark Miller and John Romita, Jr.

Kick-Ass is a comic book series created by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita Jr.  It began as an eight-issue miniseries published by Marvel Comics under the company's Icon imprint, starting in February 2008 and concluding in February 2010.

Kick-Ass is the story of Dave Lizewski, a teenager who sets out to become a real life superhero.  Dave's actions are publicized on the Internet and inspire other people to put on costumes and play hero.  Dave gets caught up in the activities of two costumed, ruthless vigilantes, an exceptionally talented fighter/killer, Hit-Girl, and her father, Big Daddy.  Father and daughter are on a mission to take down the gangster. John Genovese.

Kick-Ass became a comic book franchise with three follow-up miniseries, the seven-issue Kick-Ass 2 (October 2010 – March 2012),  the five-issue Hit Girl (June 2012 – February 2013), and the eight-issue Kick-Ass 3 (July 2013 to October 2014).  The Kick-Ass comic books yielded two movies, Kick-Ass (2010) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).

Last year, Mark Millar announced that the Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl comic books were going to be revived in a new series of miniseries slash ongoing series.  The first new six-issue miniseries, entitled Kick-Ass, is written by Mark Millar; drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Peter Steigerwald (digital inks); colored by Steigerwald; and lettered by John Workman.

Kick-Ass #1 introduces Staff Sergeant Patience Lee, a combat veteran in the Afghanistan part of the “(Global) War on Terror.”  When she returns to civilian life in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a wife and mother, Patience discovers that her husband has left her and the children.  Short on money and have to put her dreams on hold, SSG Lee decides that it is time to get paid.  So she puts on a familiar costume...

Because the original Kick-Ass miniseries kept selling out, I originally read the story in its first hardcover collection.  I loved it.  Kick-Ass is so gloriously deranged, and it seems like the ultimate encapsulation of writer Mark Millar's oeuvre, at least to that point in time.

Kick-Ass 2018 is quieter.  It also seems like more of a study of the post-Barack Obama America, with its resentful white middle class, its seething white working class, and its newly invigorated white supremacy slash white nationalist culture.  It is an America in which the balance between the haves and have-nots is completely out of whack because the haves not only want more, they also want it all.  They want it all and will have it all by any means necessary – legal, illegal, or otherwise.  In this America, even black people are turning into the very people and turning to the very systems they have traditionally lambasted – most of which revolves around violence.

John Romita, Jr.'s illustrations, compositions, and graphical storytelling are as powerful as it ever is when put to use for an intense story.  Let's be honest; drawing “real” superhero comic books are mostly a waste of JRJr's time, but Kick-Ass brings out the power, heft, and meatiness of his storytelling.  Here, Romita's art is served by a really good colorist, Peter Steigerwald, and John Workman is one of the few comic book lettering heavyweights capable of placing his fonts inside the Romita, Jr. graphics package.

So Kick-Ass is back, as strong as ever.

8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 18, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

MAY180101    ANALOG #4 CVR A O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY180102    ANALOG #4 CVR B DUGGAN & O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY180030    APHRODITE V #1 (MR)    $3.99
MAY180050    BEEF TP (MR) (MR)    $16.99
MAY180107    CRUDE #4 (MR)    $3.99
MAY180108    CURSE WORDS TP VOL 03 HOLE DAMNED WORLD (MR)    $16.99
MAY180060    DAYS OF HATE TP VOL 01 (MR)    $17.99
MAY180130    DRY COUNTY #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180732    EAST OF WEST #38    $3.99
MAY180136    EVOLUTION #8 (MR)    $3.99
MAY180139    FLAVOR #3    $3.99
MAY180141    GIDEON FALLS #5 CVR A SORRENTINO (MR)    $3.99
MAY180142    GIDEON FALLS #5 CVR B YOUNG (MR)    $3.99
APR180540    GOD COMPLEX TP VOL 01 DOGMA (MR)    $16.99
MAY180156    ICE CREAM MAN #5 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY180157    ICE CREAM MAN #5 CVR B IRVING (MR)    $3.99
MAY180159    INFIDEL #5 (OF 5) CVR A CAMPBELL & VILLARRUBIA (MR)    $3.99
MAY180160    INFIDEL #5 (OF 5) CVR B LEMIRE & VILLARRUBIA (MR)    $3.99
MAY180161    INVINCIBLE COMPENDIUM TP VOL 03    $64.99
MAY180190    KICK-ASS #6 CVR A ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
MAY180191    KICK-ASS #6 CVR B ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
MAY180192    KICK-ASS #6 CVR C ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
MAY180193    KICK-ASS #6 CVR D COWAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY180196    MAGE HERO DENIED #10 (OF 15)    $3.99
MAY180197    MAGIC ORDER #2 (OF 6) CVR A COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
MAY180198    MAGIC ORDER #2 (OF 6) CVR B COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
MAY188623    MAGIC ORDER #2 (OF 6) CVR C GRAMPA (MR)    $3.99
MAY180228    PROXIMA CENTAURI #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY180047    RAT QUEENS SPECIAL NEON STATIC (ONE-SHOT) (MR)    $3.99
APR180626    ROYAL CITY #12 (MR)    $3.99
MAY180267    SKYWARD #4    $3.99
MAY180271    STELLAR #2    $3.99
APR180637    VS #5 (OF 5) CVR A RIBIC (MR)    $3.99
APR180638    VS #5 (OF 5) CVR B RIBIC & MULLER (MR)    $3.99
MAY188911    VS #5 (OF 5) CVR C RIBIC B&W (MR)    $3.99
MAY180284    WEATHERMAN #2 CVR A FOX (MR)    $3.99
MAY180285    WEATHERMAN #2 CVR B MARTIN (MR)    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 13, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

APR180564    ANALOG #3 CVR A O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
APR180565    ANALOG #3 CVR B MCREA & SPICER (MR)    $3.99
MAR180636    BEAUTY TP VOL 04 (MR)    $16.99
APR180490    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR A FIFFE (MR)    $3.99
APR188125    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR B LIEFELD (MR)    $3.99
APR188126    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR C FRAGA (MR)    $3.99
APR188127    BLOODSTRIKE #0 CVR D FRAGA B&W (MR)    $3.99
MAR180654    COPPERHEAD #19 (MR)    $3.99
APR180575    DEAD HAND #3 (MR)    $3.99
APR180578    DEATH OF LOVE #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
APR180583    DRY COUNTY #4 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170671    FIX #12 (MR)    $3.99
APR180594    I HATE FAIRYLAND #19 CVR A YOUNG (MR)    $3.99
APR180595    I HATE FAIRYLAND #19 CVR B F*CK (UNCENSORED) FAIRYLAND VAR (    $3.99
APR188160    ISOLA #1 3RD PTG    $3.99
APR188161    ISOLA #2 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR180607    IT WILL ALL HURT TP    $18.99
APR180600    KICK-ASS #5 CVR A ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
APR180601    KICK-ASS #5 CVR B B&W ROMITA JR (MR)    $3.99
APR180602    KICK-ASS #5 CVR C YILDIRIM (MR)    $3.99
APR180604    MAGE HERO DENIED #9 (OF 15)    $3.99
APR180455    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR A COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
APR180456    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR B B&W COIPEL (MR)    $3.99
APR180457    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR C HUGHES (MR)    $3.99
APR180458    MAGIC ORDER #1 (OF 6) CVR D BLANK VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAR180714    MONSTRESS #17 (MR)    $3.99
MAR188797    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #3 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
APR180613    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #4 (MR)    $3.99
APR180614    PORT OF EARTH #6    $3.99
APR180475    PROXIMA CENTAURI #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
APR180623    ROSE #12 CVR A GUARA    $3.99
APR180624    ROSE #12 CVR B LOOPYDAVE    $3.99
APR180625    ROSE #12 CVR C MCTEIGUE    $3.99
APR180627    RUMBLE TP VOL 04 SOUL WITHOUT PITY (MR)    $16.99
APR180557    SLOTS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $16.99
APR180484    STELLAR #1    $3.99
APR180464    WEATHERMAN #1 CVR A FOX (MR)    $3.99
APR180465    WEATHERMAN #1 CVR B MARTIN (MR)    $3.99
APR188131    WEATHERMAN #1 CVR C 25 COPY INCV SCALERA (MR)    $3.99
MAR180771    WITCHBLADE #6 (MR)    $3.99

I Reads You Juniors April 2018 - Update #53

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From BleedingCool:  268 comic book creators will be signing on Free Comic Book Day 2018, May 5th, 2018.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #161 in English
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #161 in French

From TheMainichi: A lawyer has sued Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) overs its plan to block sites that link to pirated anime and manga.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Kodansha announces five digital-first manga licenses for May 2018.

From BleedingCool:  Alan Davis will contribute art to Captain America #703.

From BleedingCool: "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is going bi-monthly with issue #93.

From JapanTimes:  Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) will block sites that link to pirated anime or manga.

From Newsarama:  2018 Glyph Award nominees announced.  Winners to be announces May 19th, 2018 at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Dark Horse Licenses Mob Psycho 100 Manga

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis is rumored to be curating some times, perhaps a "Flash" comic book written by David F. Walker ("Cyborg).

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #160 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #160 in French.

From Vulture:  Jim Starlin, the creator of Marvel Comics' mega-villain, Thanos, hates Marvel Comics.

From AnimeNewNetwork:  The worldwide master of horror comics, Junji Ito, spoke about the anime adaptation of his horror manga during a story signing.

From BleedingCool:  No Matt Fraction. No "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen" revival... for now.

From ArtNetNews:  Check out the public murals and graffiti that are part of the "Peanuts Global Art Collective."

From Geek:  Japan takes emergency action against anime and manga pirating websites.

From BleedingCool:  Next week in Diamond Previews (May 2018)... Ta-Nehisi Coates and Lienil Francis Yu's "Captain America" and Rob Guillory's "Farmhand."

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics' July 2018 solicitations from Diamond Distributors.

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing's July 2018 solicitations from Diamond Distributors.

From ComicBook:  Eiichiro Oda talks about the unprecedented sales of his manga, "One Piece."

From BleedingCool:  BleedingCool talks to Bruce Canwell of The Library of American Comics, which publishes collections of the American newspaper comic strips.

From Forbes:   Inside The Big-Money, 24-Hour World Of Comic Books

From JapanTimes:  The Japanese government wants calls for "emergency measures" to block access to websites that pirate manga and anime.

From CommercialAppeal:  Sheree Renee Thomas organizing Afrofuturism event in Memphis, TN, on Saturday, April 21st.

From ComicBook:  Hiro Mishima ("Fairy Tail") previews his new manga, but the title has not been announced.

From BleedingCool:  Raina Telgemeier's "Drama" makes the American Library Association's "banded books" list again.

From BleedingCool: DC Comics Reveals Solicits for Superman #1 and Action Comics #1001.

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From TheRorschachTest:  A podcast interview of longtime writer about comic books, Augie De Blieck, Jr.

From PipelineComics:  The subject of the above interview, Augie's piece, "The Inevitable Direct Market Implosion."

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From BleedingCool:  President Trump makes an appearance in "Suicide Squad."

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has apparently announced that his new work will debut at the end of 2018 and will be a long-form series.  Previous speculation is that it is a science fiction manga.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  The venerable manga, "Detective Conan" (known as "Case Closed"), will get a spinoff.

From Techaeris:  Manga piracy in Japan is hurting the creators of the art form

From io9:  Evan Narcisse tells the truth: "Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Might Be the Most Under-Appreciated Superhero Artist of All Time."

From BleedingCool:  Here is a preview of Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel's "The Magic Order."

From SyFyWire:  Mark Millar talks to "SyFy Wire" in a video interview.  Millarworld, Netflix, and Marvel vs. DC Movies are some of the topics discussed.

From AnimeNetworkNews:  VIZ Media announces that it will publish another Junji Ito short story collection, "Frankenstein."

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STAN LEE MELODRAMA - From BleedingCool:  Stan Lee sues Jerry Olivarez of "Hands of Respect" for elder abuse.

From YahooMoviesUK:  In an online video, Stan Lee says that he is not a victim of elder abuse.

From ABCActionNews:  Stan Lee's blood was apparently used to sign comic books in Las Vegas.

From BleedingCool:  Fans express concern about Stan Lee after his appearance at Silicon Valley Comic Con.

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From BleedingCool:  Joelle Jones will write and draw an ongoing "Catwoman" comic book series.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #159 in English
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #159 in French

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Fresh Start" will include dual issue numbers and a new trade dress/graphic design.

From CBR:  The Justice League has a new villain, debuting in "Justice League #41."

From BleedingCool:  "All-New Wolverine #33" has a Marvel characters as President of the United States.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #158 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #158 in French.

From MangaTokyo:  "Detective Conan" ("Case Closed" in the USA), from creator Gosho Aoyama, is ending its short hiatus and returns in a week.

From Crunchyroll:  The "Hunter x Hunter" manga, from Yoshihiro Togashi, is going on hiatus again.

From JapanNews:  Here is a review of a French graphic novel, "Matsumoto."   He was the cult leader behind the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.

From BleedingCool:  Comics creators writer letters in support of 1980s-90s comic book creator, Gerard Jones.  Jones recently entered a guilty plea to two felony counts concerning his possession and distribution of child pornography.

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit celebrates "World Autism Awareness Day with the recent addition to Riverdale, Scarlet.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #157 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #157 in French.

From MarvelNews:  The Fantastic Four returns to comic books in "Fantastic Four #1" this August.

I Reads You Juniors November 2017 - Update #59

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics cancels its planned reprint of writer Rachel Pollack's run on "Doom Patrol."

From BleedingCool:  Mark Millar teases next Netflix project - a Chrononauts sequel, perhaps?

From BleedingCool:   Len Wein will posthumously receive an honor from the Writers Guild of America, with tributes from Hugh Jackman and Neil Gaiman.

From PacificStandard:  How Comic Books Can Get Even Better for Dyslexic Readers

From BleedingCool:  So why did IDW cancel "Scarlett's Strike Force?"

From ComicBook.com:  "Bleach" creator Tite Kubo also sharing a sketch.

From ComicBook.com:  "One Punch Man" creator Yusuke Murata shares a sketch.

From BleedingCool:  Kevin Grevioux will write the final two issues of DC Comics' current "Cyborg" series.

From BleedingCool:  Writer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory had a hit series at Image, CHEW, but they still can't get work at Marvel or DC Comics.

From BleedingCool:   Fantagraphics Books solicitations for February 2018.

From BleedingCool: When Alan Moore Talked About DC Comics And Watchmen Sequels…. Back In 2010

From BleedingCool:  The Morality Of Reading, Writing, And Publishing Doomsday Clock.

From BleedingCool:  Kevin Smith will write the second story arc of the ongoing "Hit Girl" comic book series.  Character co-creator Mark Millar will write the first arc.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #144 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #144 in French.

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing Febuary 2018 solicitations.

From SoraNew24:  The Naruto manga will get a kabuki play in 2018.

From LaredoMorningTimes:  Yomiuri Shimbun Buronson, the writer of the "Fist of the North Star" manga, will open a free manga school to attract new manga creators.

From EW:  The site has a preview of Syfy's documentary about Image Comics, "So Much Damage."

From Gizmodo: The site has images from the cancelled promotional comic book that Marvel Comics was producing for war munitions corporation, Northrop Grumman.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis has chosen the writer who will follow him on "Jessica Jones."

From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston is reporting that C.B. Cebulski is Marvel Comics' new Editor-in-Chief.

From SouthChinaMorningPost: "Tintin" creator, Herge, moved to tears by the global popularity of his creation, Tintin the boy detective/reporter and his dog, Snowy.

From BleedingCool:  Jeff Lemire says writing the X-Men ("Extraordinary X-Men") was kind of a nightmare.

From BleedingCool:  Liam Sharp's Batman/Wonder Woman project is a six-issue miniseries, "The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman," which Sharp will write and draw.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #143 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #143 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Hypertime is back.

From BleedingCool:  Nightcrawler and Gabby will be cast members of the upcoming comic book, "X-Men Red," starring a resurrected Jean Grey.

From EW:  DC Comics fires longtime editor, Eddie Berganza, in the wake of Buzzfeed's article about sexual harassment allegations against him.

From Newsarama:  According to October 2017 numbers, comic book sales still on course to finish ten percent below 2016.

From BleedingCool:  Namor and Gentle (a mutant from Black Panther's country of Wakanda) are revealed as the first two members to join "X-Men: Red" in addition to series headliner, a resurrected Jean Grey.

From BleedingCool:  Comics community reacts to editor Eddie Berganza's suspension at DC Comics.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics suspended group editor Eddie Berganza on Sat. Nov. 11th as controversy roils around the editor and allegations of sexual misconduct on his part.

From BleedingCool:  Comics creators take to Twitter to respond to and comment on Buzzfeed's Eddie Berganza article.

From Buzzfeed:   The mainstream gets in on the story of DC Comics' super-editor Eddie Berganza's history of sexual harassment of female DC Comics' employees.

From GraphicPolicy:  Dark Horse Comics mainstay, Scott Allie, has been accused of inappropriate behavior against coworkers and other people, including biting people.

From ComicsBeat:  "How a toxic history of harassment has damaged the comics industry" by Heidi Macdonald.

From DoctorNerdLove:  "Nerds and Male Privilege: Tess Fowler and Comic Harassment"

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From CinemaBlend:  The movie-related reason Brian Michael Bendis left Marvel for DC Comics.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics has made an offer to Jonathan Hickman.

From Quartz:  Netflix is going to test new ideas by publishing them as comic books, according to this article.

From Netflix:  Here is the press release about Mark Millar's first comic book for the "internet entertainment service."

From BleedingCool:  The resurrected Jean Grey will be the lead of a new X-Men comic book, "X-Men: Red" by Tom Taylor and Mahmud Asrar.

From BleedingCool:  The first graphic novel in the "DC Super Hero Gils" has apparently sold over 100,000 copies.

From AnimeNewNetwork:  Akira creator, Katsuhiro Otomo, reveals a painting of his that was inspired by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

From TheKingdomInsider:  Would Disney stop publishing Marvel comic books.

From GWillowWilson:  Comic book writer, G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) has sold her second novel, "The Bird King."

----------
From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis, the longtime Marvel Comics writer, has signed a multi-year exclusive deal with DC Comics.

From BleedingCool:  According to the site, reasons Bendis left Marvel Comics for DC Comics.
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From Variety:  The first comic book that Mark Millar will write for Netflix (which bought Millarworld, reportedly for $30 million) will be "The Magic Order," a six-issue miniseries to be drawn by Olivier Coipel.

From SlashGear:  Make comics or manga right on your phone or tablet.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis all the characters he says can beat Batman.

From ComicBookBin:   New Johnny Bullet episode #142 in English.
From ComicBookBin:   New Johnny Bullet episode #142 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Monster Energy (an energy drink producer) does not want Marvel Comics to have a comic book entitled "Monsters Unleashed."

From Mashable:  Apparently, people are mostly ignoring Amazon's promotional sale prices on digital versions of three "Thor" graphic novels.

----------
From BleedingCool:  Mark Hamill will write a Millarworld comic book.

From BleedingCool:  Rian Hughes is planning on publishing a massive collection of his comic book logo design work.

From CBR:  Writer Joshua Williamson talks about the "Flash War" event that will appear in comic books in 2018.

From CBLDF:  The Library of Congress with throw the spotlight on women comics and comic book cartoonists, artists and illustrators in an exhibit that begins November 18, 2017 and will run through October 2018.

From Polygon:  Titan Comics to publish a comic book based on FromSoftware's "Bloodborne" video game.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #141 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #141 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Salt Lake Comic Con is considering using crowd-funding to finance their fight with San Diego Comic-Con International over the term "Comic Con."

Review: GENERATIONS: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man #1

GENERATIONS: MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN & PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Ramon Perez
COLORS: Msassyk
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Ramón Pérez with Msassyk
VARIANT COVERS: Chris Sprouse and Karl Story with Justin Ponsor; Olivier Coipel with Laura Martin
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; Miles Morales created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli

“The Spiders”

Generations is an event limited comic book series from Marvel Comics.  It is a planned 10-issue anthology comic, published weekly.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The ninth issue (at least by my count) is Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man, which brings together two versions of the classic Marvel Comics character, Spider-Man.  The first is the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, who first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (cover date: August 1962).  The second was once known as the Ultimate Spider-Man; he is Miles Morales who first appeared in Ultimate Fallout #4 (cover dated: August 2011), and who now lives in the Marvel Universe as simply Spider-Man.  This issue of Generations is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Ramón Pérez; colored by Msassyk; and lettered by Cory Petit.

Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man #1 (“The Spiders”) opens with Miles Morales who discovers that he went from where he was to somewhere else.  But where?  He is in the stall of a public restroom, but this isn't just any public restroom.  It's the men's restroom at the college where Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, is an incoming freshman.

This version of Peter Parker does not know Miles Morales, and Parker is about to face one of the most difficult battles of his life, as his precious Aunt May lies near death.  So Miles asks himself, “Why am I here, now, to witness this time in Peter's life.”

Of late, artist Ramón Pérez is the go-to-guy when Marvel wants to replicate and recall the early Steve Ditko Spider-Man comic books.  Pérez offers his most impressionistic take on Ditko's Spider-Man yet.  I think that this is appropriate as Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man #1 is supposed to have a dream-like quality, making it less about plot and setting and more about what is discovered in the story.

Bendis makes this tale Miles' story and the point is that Miles is supposed to learn something from Peter Parker.  What he learns is surprising, and I have to give Bendis credit because initially I did not see a reason for this story; Miles and Peter have team-up quite a bit in the recent past.  So Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man #1 is redundant... except, don't call this a team-up.  True insight can be gained!  I won't call this one of the better Generations entries, but it is a novel approach to bringing familiar characters together.

B+
7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------------

Review: GENERATIONS: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1

GENERATIONS: MS. MARVEL & MS. MARVEL No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: G. Willow Wilson
ART: Paolo Villanelli
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Nelson Blake II with Rachelle Rosenberg
VARIANT COVERS: Kris Anka; Olivier Coipel with Laura Martin
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers created by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan; Kamala Khan created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, and Adrian Alphona

“The Marvels”

Generations is an event limited comic book series from Marvel Comics.  It is a planned 10-issue anthology, published weekly.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The eighth issue is Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel, which brings together two versions of a classic Marvel Comics character, Ms. Marvel.  The first is the original Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers.  Danvers first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (cover date: March 1968) and became Ms. Marvel in Ms. Marvel #1 (cover dated: January 1977).  The second is the new Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, a 16 year-old Pakistani-American from Jersey City, New Jersey.  Kamala first appeared in Captain Marvel #14 (cover dated: August 2013), and she became the new Ms. Marvel in Captain Marvel #17 (cover dated: November 2013).  This issue of Generations is written by G. Willow Wilson; drawn by Paolo Villanelli; colored by Ian Herring; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1 (“The Marvels”) is set in a New York City of the recent past (likely sometime in the last quarter of the twentieth century.  The story opens in the office of “Woman Magazine,” part of J. Jonah Jameson's “Daily Bugle” publishing empire.  Editor-in-Chief Carol Danvers and her editorial and management staff are trying to deal with a crisis, and also with a new intern, Karina, who is really Kamala Kahn, brought here by a mysterious space-time force.

Kamala idolizes Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel, but in this corner of time and space, Danvers does not know Kamala.  Also, “Woman Magazine” is in a state of crisis because of its circulation, but especially because Danvers and her staff are having trouble figuring out who is their audience and what do they want from the magazine.  However, the magazine may soon be under new management – alien management!  Nightscream of the alien Shi'ar Empire is masquerading as a human named Barbara Nelson.  Can Kamala save the magazine and also help the original Ms. Marvel stop and alien menace, even if the original does not want help from the new version?

Of the eight issues of Generations that I have read as of this writing, Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1 is my second favorite after my favorite, Generations:  Iron Man & Ironheart #1.  It is certainly better than last week's previous Carol Danvers Generations appearance Generations: Captain Marvel & Captain Mar-Vell #1.

Part of Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1's success is due to its story written by G. Willow Wilson.  Wilson is a truly unique storytelling voice in American superhero comic books.  She embraces the good, the bad, and the ugly in humanity.  She creates characters that capture the beauty and... un-pretty we can find in people.  In Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, she created a character who is a superhero that believes that she should first do no harm.  And yes, this is a one-off, throwaway story, but Wilson delivers a tale that epitomizes the resourcefulness and determination of Kamala.

The other part in delivering this winning tale is the work of artist Paolo Villanelli and colorist Ian Herring.  I like that they recall the work of Ms. Marvel's originating artist, Adrian Alphona, without lazily imitating him.  Villanelli and Herring create a bright, sunny, positive story that makes me wish this Generations tale had a second life.  Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1 is certainly a Generations comic book worth reading.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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